The Album Review Club - Week #191 (page 1286) - Harlequin Dream - Boy & Bear

FogBlueInSanFran said:
Again, I will have more but I had somewhat of the same reaction my first time through -- i.e. why don't I like this a little more -- though my take on some particular songs is different than yours. I do think "side one" is conventional and "side two" more messing about, but that's not a value judgment nor a preference. Also think I'm going to like it more the second time through. The first time with a new record -- if it doesn't immediately blow my doors off or make me want to chuck it out the door -- is always just processing -- i.e. sniffing not tasting.

Also, is Jimmy Shands cockney rhyming slang for something? I assumed he meant his schlong given the reference to pork and beans.
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No, he was a real bloke. Funnily enough an accordion player.
 
threespires said:
I'm conscious I have a propensity to respond to people's comments on my picks probably more so than other posters, I do that not to be disputatious or contumelious but simply cause I only ever pick albums by artists I really like talking about.
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I think it’s great when people like to talk about their picks. Not only to defend it, but to dig deeper into the details. Let’s face it, there’s a 99.99% chance that the nominator knows far more than the rest of us.

As noted, I listened to Acoustic Classics yesterday, managed a listen to The Old Kit Bag on YouTube this morning and then his latest, Ship to Shore this afternoon. All fantastic listens and something that they all have in common is that you need to listen more before you can form opinion on them. Status Quo or AC/DC this isn’t, but it’s fair to say that Richard Thompson is equal parts observant, inventive, witty and poignant as a songwriter. He’s handy as an axeman too.

I’m two listens into Rumor and Sigh and not even close to forming a full opinion yet, but please don’t think that this means it’ll be a 10/10 :)
 
RobMCFC said:
No, he was a real bloke. Funnily enough an accordion player.
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Apparently Bob Dylan once went to a party grabbed the turntable refused to surrender it's control and played Robert Johnson records all night. The song is supposedly a little homage to that and Thompson substituted his Dad's (who was Scottish) collection of 78s of the aforementioned Mr Shands as they were something he was very fond of.
 
I tend to avoid other reviews at least until after my first listen. Seems a lot of length, and yet I can't look at it yet! By the time I get to it the moment will have gone
 
RobMCFC said:
I’m two listens into Rumor and Sigh and not even close to forming a full opinion yet, but please don’t think that this means it’ll be a 10/10 :)
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I gave up on you lot on scoring after the Skinner debacle!

Suffice to say if someone gets a bit of something from the artist, especially if it was someone like you who'd never quite got round to listening to them, then jobs a good 'un.
 
LGWIO said:
As ever my first listen was when driving in to work this afternoon.
A totally new one on me (yet again) and from first listen very enjoyable.
The first thing that struck me was the thought that he sounded a bit like David Byrne and a bit like Speaking in Tongues, Talking Heads, then latterly when the accordian came to the fore, a bit like Little Creatures.
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I was trying to place who his vocals reminded of in listening today, and then remembered you said this, and then it hit me. Both similar in vocal soundings in tone, and both talent lyricists, so this one is working quite well.

I think I have almost half of this album reviewed in the Playlist thread alone, so I'm going to go back and remind myself how much I already like this! ;-)
 
I'd only really heard Richard Thompson doing more folk music so this album was a surprise for me. I'd certainly not played much of his work but he's a superb guitarist, but maybe his folkier stuff just didn't really appeal so I'd king of passed him by.

When the first song came on I was really quite surprised by it and actually quite liked it. The same for the next few as well. He reminded me of someone, but I couldn't quite think of who.

I must admit though I got a bit tired of his voice after a few more songs which tempered by earlier view, but probably not enough to not like it. He's someone I will have a dig around for sure!

Overall an interesting pick and I've learnt something about him.

7/10
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
I was trying to place who his vocals reminded of in listening today, and then remembered you said this, and then it hit me. Both similar in vocal soundings in tone, and both talent lyricists, so this one is working quite well.

I think I have almost half of this album reviewed in the Playlist thread alone, so I'm going to go back and remind myself how much I already like this! ;-)
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It's a nightmare being an FOC! I knew I'd nominated 1952 VBL on the playlist thread but hadn't recalled that @Mancitydoogle had nominated another track from this album or that I'd done a third! In fact, a quick search on the playlist thread suggests I've been proselytising on Thompson's behalf well before this pick. Perhaps I should have gone with Insane Clown Posse after all.
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
I'll save my full comments for my review but there's no getting around it -- this man is very, very, very talented.
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I meant to respond to this comment earlier. One of the things I can never quite get my head round is that you'll often see him do his hybrid picking technique that when you add in the vocal melody means he's effectively playing three parts simultaneously including two rhythmically independent parts with the fingers of the same hand. I know he's far from the only person to do this but maybe any guitarists on here will be able to say whether that's as complex as it seems to my tiny brain which can barely process strumming a few chords.
 
threespires said:
It's a nightmare being an FOC! I knew I'd nominated 1952 VBL on the playlist thread but hadn't recalled that @Mancitydoogle had nominated another track from this album or that I'd done a third! In fact, a quick search on the playlist thread suggests I've been proselytising on Thompson's behalf well before this pick.
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Almost makes me upset with myself for not guessing this pick, but then I harken back to those "clues", and I forgive myself! ;-)
 
It’s a bit like a box of chocolates. One track is a hazelnut. Another a Strawberry Cream.
I haven’t listened to a great deal of his music. This will be the first album of his I’ve really listened to. It’s not what I expected, particularly his vocals where I can hear some Ferry/Byrne. Lots of the tracks bounce along nicely but I prefer some of the more acoustic music. I like 1952 Vincent very much and the guy is some guitarist- a master of all styles. I can tell it’s one that will grow on me by repeated plays and once my head is out of 1964 I will listen more and explore some of his other stuff. A great pick and I will give it 7 which in my scoring regime means I like it very much.
 
Given this is now an important topic of this thread.. The album cover artwork, then. Discuss.
 
Can't find the specific post to respond to now, but early on in this week's nomination, @threespires you said something along the lines of being able to predict what certain poaters would make of this. Including expecting Rob to like it.

What did your magic 8-ball predict for me out of interest?
 
Coatigan said:
Given this is now an important topic of this thread.. The album cover artwork, then. Discuss.
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I wondered if anyone would mention this. Laura Levine was more a photographer but also did illustrations too. I think it's quite in keeping with the general tone of the album, I like the back cover with the Angel on an Ariel swopping down to carry James Adie home. She also did the video for a Feel So Good - it's very archetypal MTV but I won't hold that against her.




Coatigan said:
Can't find the specific post to respond to now, but early on in this week's nomination, @threespires you said something along the lines of being able to predict what certain poaters would make of this. Including expecting Rob to like it.

What did your magic 8-ball predict for me out of interest?
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I merely said I had thoughts on Rob's potential reaction, I did not reveal what those thoughts were, it was Foggy who predicted he would enjoy it.

It occurred to me that in his own quiet way RT actually has a slightly DIY/punkish quality that aligned to the folk elements might appeal to you but this album's production masks it somewhat so it left me unsure.
 
threespires said:
I wondered if anyone would mention this. Laura Levine was more a photographer but also did illustrations too. I think it's quite in keeping with the general tone of the album, I like the back cover with the Angel on an Ariel swopping down to carry James Adie home. She also did the video for a Feel So Good - it's very archetypal MTV but I won't hold that against her.






I merely said I had thoughts on Rob's potential reaction, I did not reveal what those thoughts were, it was Foggy who predicted he would enjoy it.

It occurred to me that in his own quiet way RT actually has a slightly DIY/punkish quality that aligned to the folk elements might appeal to you but this album's production masks it somewhat so it left me unsure.
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Yeah I am really having to core through the Country here, to get to any folk or punkish.

Re the cover, it suggests quite a home-made effort, but the album is really well produced and put together. The video is interesting, ever seen any of the Midnight Ambulance ilustrated videos? Worth a wee shoofty.
 
Coatigan said:
Yeah I am really having to core through the Country here, to get to any folk or punkish.

Re the cover, it suggests quite a home-made effort, but the album is really well produced and put together. The video is interesting, ever seen any of the Midnight Ambulance ilustrated videos? Worth a wee shoofty.
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Indeed I forgot about your dislike of anything with even a slightly countryish hue especially when it lacks grit. This album was the record companies attempt to get him the exposure his song writing deserved so he was is suitably scrubbed up and polished and any awkward angles where lopped off. Don't think it had the desired effect probably not helped by the fact he seemed to have little interest in the spotlight.

Personally I only think the cover looks home-made on first pass; it's got a very vivid colour scheme in-keeping with the slight sugar-rush production too.

I feel sure someone has posted the video for Smoke and Sweets before?
 
threespires said:
FFS, let it go lads!

Had you been born in medieval times, I bet you two would've been the types to hang round the local stocks hoping for an afternoons entertainment ;-)
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And they both love a waistcoat!

Another listen and a half today which continued my enjoyment of Mr T. certainly not what I expected when there was that first mention of Fairport Convention.
I certainly prefer the more up tempo numbers and I like the fun he has with his lyrics along obviously with his musicianship...but then you wouldnt have been playing for as long as he has without having become pretty damn good.
In response to @RobMCFC and my thoughts that i got a bit of JCM out of this. I think it was a slight bit of "Hard Times"(LJ) in feel So Good, but not so much after a few listens, as that was just an initial thought on first listen.
perhaps the only track i wasnt that "down with" is "God Loves A drunk" which was starting to get a bit "finger in the ear" folkish. But I have heard an awful lot worse and it is a pretty damn good album.
Another listen tomorrow before scoring.
 
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